Thirst for information and zest for life – family pays tribute to Highland journalist
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The family of Highland media giant Bill McAllister says it has been overwhelmed by messages of support following his death.
Mr McAllister (78) was a highly-respected journalist, author and media relations officer who wrote the Inverness Courier’s Down Memory Lane feature.
He had a passionate interest in football and shinty, was involved in the Labour party and was a well-known and popular guest speaker.
Mr McAllister, who was taken ill earlier this month, died last Saturday.
He was married to Inverness Central councillor Bet McAllister for 53 years and was father to Mark, Ker and Gemma, and also had five grandchildren.
His funeral will be held in St Mary’s Church, Huntly Street, Inverness, on May 9 at noon. It will be livestreamed via www.chisholmfunerals.co.uk.
Donations towards Blythswood Care Highland Food Bank (Glebe Street, Inverness) in his memory may be given at the door.
As tributes and messages of condolence continued to pour in, his family recalled him as someone who was family-orientated with a zest for life, a thirst for information and a friend to a huge number of people.
Speaking on behalf of the family, son Mark said: “He had a non-quenchable thirst for history, for information and for stories young and old – a very knowledgeable man, indeed.
“He was a man who was family orientated, kind, generous, gentle and very balanced. A true gentleman in every way.
“He was very proud of the fact that I played for Inverness Caley FC and then Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and would always be telling people that he met.”
He had taken his role as grandfather seriously, going above and beyond for all five grandchildren.
“He had a hunger and zest for life and enjoyed meeting new people everywhere he went,” he continued.
“He also had a thirst for information which drove his passion for journalism, broadcasting, politics and public relations.”
The family recalled him as a positive person who was selfless and giving.
“He possessed an encyclopaedic mind and memory and was a fountain of knowledge to all that knew him,” Mr McAllister said.
“He loved his daily walks around the outskirts of Inverness and beyond.
“Many people also benefited on social media from his historical facts and stories surrounding the area and buildings he stumbled upon.
“He loved the hills that he wandered through and unfortunately those hills have a lost an old friend too.
“The McAllister family will miss him tremendously because no matter where in the world we were, be it Inverness, London, Cork, Spain, Portugal, he would entertain us and we always had a laugh!”
The family wanted to thank everyone for the huge amount of messages of support, cards, gifts and tributes since Bill’s passing.
“We have been inundated and overwhelmed by the reaction which has been a positive comfort to the family,” he said.
Others who have added their tributes include David Stewart, former Highlands and Islands Labour MSP and previously MP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber.
“Bill was a close friend and mentor to me for nearly 40 years,” he said.
“He was a Labour stalwart and Inverness district councillor. Without his guidance, along with former councillor Jimmy Gray, I would never have stayed the pace to become an MP in 1997.
“Bill was a force of nature in the Highlands and beyond – a talented journalist, master of ceremonies par excellence and an incredible friend, who could start a party in an empty room.
“The Highlands will be the poorer with his passing.”
Highland businessman David Sutherland recalled working closely with Mr McAllister for 20 years when he took on a PR role for Tulloch Construction.
“He was a very important cog in our wheel in being able to translate everything we were doing in terms the public could understand,” he recalled.
Mr Sutherland, sponsor of the Down Memory Lane column via Ness Castle Lodges, said he had received much help from Mr McAllister when he wrote a book about his own story and the Tulloch journey.
“The title was ‘We’ve Come A Long Way’ – and I feel I’ve come a long way with Bill McAllister’s story,” he reflected.
